σιδήρεος (sidēreos)
sidēreos
iron
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective sidēreos describes something made of iron. In the New Testament, this word appears only five times, linking directly to the Hebrew barzel found in the Old Testament. It conveys a sense of unyielding strength and durability, reflecting the material’s hardness and resistance to breaking.
Its usage highlights themes of authority and judgment. For instance, Revelation 2:27 and 19:15 describe ruling with an iron scepter, symbolizing absolute power that cannot be resisted. Similarly, Acts 12:10 mentions passing through an iron gate, grounding the imagery in a tangible reality of security and confinement.
Translators typically render sidēreos simply as "iron," preserving the literal sense without adding metaphorical layers. This straightforward approach allows the reader to grasp the physical weight of the material, which then supports its symbolic role in depicting divine sovereignty or earthly constraints.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sidēreos points to something made of iron, a material known for its unyielding strength and durability. In Scripture, this hardness is not just about physical weight but serves as a powerful image of authority. When the Bible speaks of ruling with an iron rod, it conveys a sovereignty that is absolute and cannot be broken or resisted by human effort.
For your faith, this offers a deep sense of security. Whether you are facing the confinement of difficult circumstances, like the iron gate in Acts 12, or looking toward the future, the image of Christ’s rule reminds you that no force on earth can shake His power. You can rest in the knowledge that His justice is firm and His protection is real.
This tangible reality of iron grounds our spiritual hopes in something solid. It invites us to trust in a God whose word stands as firmly as metal, providing stability when everything else feels uncertain. We are invited to find peace in the certainty of His enduring reign.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- of iron,2×
- of iron.1×
- of iron1×
- iron1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- σιδηρᾷ.1×
- σιδηρᾷ,1×
- σιδηρᾷ1×
- σιδηρᾶν1×
- σιδηροῦς,1×
Key Verses
-
Revelation of John 2:27
He will rule them with a rod of iron, shattering them like clay pots, as I also have received of my Father;
This verse uses iron to symbolize Christ’s absolute authority to shatter opposition, just as a potter breaks clay.
-
Acts 12:10
When they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
Here the iron gate illustrates a tangible barrier that God’s power removes supernaturally, highlighting divine intervention in confinement.
-
Revelation of John 19:15
Out of his mouth proceeds a sharp, double-edged sword that with it he should strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He treads the wine press of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty.
The iron rod here emphasizes the finality and unresistible nature of Christ’s judgment against evil.